Introduction — by LiyaIn every age, the structures of power reveal themselves not through what they say, but through what they hide. I arrived at the Citadel expecting a place of decision, will, and presence. Instead, I found a machine—intricate, humming, and strangely empty at its core.What struck me first was not corruption or cruelty, but performance. Aides … [Read more...] about The Absent Leader: A Satire of Modern Governance
Humor
Home Alone Tokyo: The Christmas Heist in Japan
IntroductionIf you’ve ever been inside the McCallister house on the morning of a big family trip, you know one thing for certain:silence is not invited.Suitcases don’t sit quietly.Doors don’t close gently.And the McCallisters — well, they don’t exactly whisper.On this particular December morning, the house erupted long before the sun did.There were missing … [Read more...] about Home Alone Tokyo: The Christmas Heist in Japan
Mark Twain Teaches Children the Joy of Storytelling
Introduction My name is Eli Thompson, and I’m in the Firefly Writers class at Meadowbrook Elementary. Before today, I didn’t really think much about stories. I liked them, sure—reading them, hearing them—but I never thought I could make any.Not real ones. Not good ones.Mrs. Alvarez said we were getting a special guest.She wiggled her eyebrows like it was a … [Read more...] about Mark Twain Teaches Children the Joy of Storytelling
Hitori Saito’s Soul Stage Test Explained with Comedy
Introduction Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you something. Life ain’t just bills, TikTok trends, and trying not to eat that last slice of cake — it’s a classroom. Yep, a straight-up school. And the craziest part? The tests don’t come with pencils, they come with people.Your buddy gets a new car? That’s a test. Your cousin goes viral on TikTok for … [Read more...] about Hitori Saito’s Soul Stage Test Explained with Comedy
Comedy Clash of Cultures: U.S. Boldness vs. Japanese Humility
Introduction by Naomi Watanabe Welcome, everyone! Tonight, we’re diving into something I know very well: what’s funny in one country doesn’t always land the same in another. In the U.S., words like unapologetic or unstoppable sound powerful, even glamorous. But in Japan, if I walk into a room and say, ‘I’m unapologetic!’ people might look at me like, ‘Are … [Read more...] about Comedy Clash of Cultures: U.S. Boldness vs. Japanese Humility
Hitori Saito Meets The Enigma of Amigara Fault
The other week, a young man came to me and asked, ‘Hitori-san, what would you do if you were standing in front of that strange mountain, the one with all the human-shaped holes, and one of them started calling your name?’I laughed and told him, ‘First of all, I’d say, “Thank you very much, but I already have a warm futon and a nice bowl of miso soup waiting for … [Read more...] about Hitori Saito Meets The Enigma of Amigara Fault
Hitori Saito Brings Light to Junji Ito’s Hellstar Remina
The other day, one of my disciples came to me and said, ‘Hitori-san, if a giant red planet appeared in the sky, devouring stars and heading straight for Earth, what would you do?’I laughed and said, ‘First of all, I’d say, “Welcome! But please, take a number and wait your turn.” You see, people always panic when something big shows up in life—whether it’s a … [Read more...] about Hitori Saito Brings Light to Junji Ito’s Hellstar Remina
Hitori Saito in Tomie: Transforming Junji Ito’s Dark Beauty
One day, someone asked me, ‘Hitori-san, what would you do if you met Tomie, Junji Ito’s immortal beauty?’ I laughed and said, ‘Well, first of all, I’d compliment her! You don’t meet a girl who can regenerate every day. That’s like meeting a flower shop that never runs out of roses!’People say Tomie drives men crazy, makes them jealous, makes them violent. But you … [Read more...] about Hitori Saito in Tomie: Transforming Junji Ito’s Dark Beauty
Hitori Saito in Uzumaki: Turning Junji Ito’s Spirals Into Light
One day, somebody asked me, ‘Hitori-san, if you went into Junji Ito’s world, especially Uzumaki, what would you do?’ And I laughed. Because imagine this: a whole town screaming, running from spirals, and then here I come — a man in a white hat saying, ‘Oh, look! Free spinning decorations. Must be festival season!’You see, when people get scared, they forget the … [Read more...] about Hitori Saito in Uzumaki: Turning Junji Ito’s Spirals Into Light
Pride to Forgiveness: A Comic Rewrite of Sophocles’ Antigone
Of all the ancient tragedies, Antigone may be the hardest to breathe into. Where Oedipus Rex turns on fate and blindness, Hamlet on indecision and revenge, Antigone turns on something both sharp and simple: pride.Creon, the new king, demands order. Antigone, the grieving sister, demands love. Both are right, and both are wrong, because both hold their truths so … [Read more...] about Pride to Forgiveness: A Comic Rewrite of Sophocles’ Antigone